These gluten-free buffalo cauliflower bites are a game day hit! Crispy cauliflower florets tossed in a spicy buffalo sauce are a party appetizer that everyone can enjoy.
Nothing pairs together like football and snacks. On game day, cozy up on the couch with these homemade buffalo cauliflower bites! Crispy, saucy, warm, and spicy—these vegan and gluten-free buffalo cauliflower wings are an appetizer than everyone will enjoy, regardless of dietary restrictions. Dip them in ranch and they are perfection.
These little spicy bites are made easily using pantry staples, and they can be made ahead of time for easy game day prep. Have I sold you yet? They're deliciously addicting. Keep reading to learn how to make buffalo cauliflower bites for your next Super Bowl watch party!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Crispy & spicy! Nothing compares to a fried batter covered in Buffalo sauce.
- Gluten-free and vegan. This recipe naturally contains no gluten or dairy.
- Make ahead. Fry the cauliflower ahead of time and toss in sauce when serving.
- A great vehicle for ranch. Cause who doesn't love something you can dip in ranch?!
- The perfect addition to a game day watch party!
Looking for more game day snacks? You'll also like my Rotisserie Buffalo Chicken Dip, Gluten-Free Bang Bang Shrimp, Gluten-Free Jalapeño Poppers, and Gluten-Free Air-Fried Mozzarella Sticks.
Ingredients & Substitutions
What's great about this recipe is that the batter comes together with pantry staples you most likely already have. Here's what you need to make gluten-free buffalo cauliflower:
- Cauliflower: Buy a medium-sized full head of cauliflower. Do not use frozen cauliflower.
- Oil for frying: I recommend avocado oil or canola oil.
- Buffalo sauce: I love using the classic Frank's Red Hot Buffalo! Ensure this is vegan if necessary as some contain dairy.
- Gluten-free all-purpose flour: I use Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour
- Cornstarch: Adds an extra crispiness to the batter.
- Baking powder: A decent amount of baking powder makes the batter light and airy.
- Salt, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, black pepper
- Water: Just plain water is needed—no beer or club soda required.
- Ranch dressing: Buffalo + ranch are a match made in heaven. Dipping the saucy bites in cool ranch is a delicious combo.
Step-by-Step Instructions
(1) Fill a heavy-bottom pot with the frying oil. Depending on the size of your pot, the oil should be about 1 inch deep. Turn the heat to medium and allow the oil to slowly warm up.
(2) While the oil is heating, wash the head of cauliflower, dry, and chop into florets. They should be about 1-2 inches in diameter.
(3) In a very large bowl, combine the batter ingredients, mixing the dry ingredients thoroughly before adding the water. You will notice the batter will thicken and bubble. Add the cauliflower florets to the batter and stir to coat entirely. You may need to do this in batches.
(4) Test if the oil is hot enough by dropping a small amount of batter in. If it bubbles, puffs, and browns, the oil is good to go.
Frying Tip! If the batter does not bubble or puff, the oil is not hot enough. Either increase the heat slightly or wait for the temperature to come up. Test again with another piece of batter until you know it's ready.
If the batter immediately turns dark brown, the oil is too hot. Turn the temperature down and wait a few minutes for it to come down. Test again with another piece of batter until you know it's ready.
Carefully use tongs or a slotted spoon to drop battered cauliflower florets into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pot to ensure each floret has space around it. You will have to do this in batches.
Fry for approximately 2-3 minutes before flipping and cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes. Watch the smaller pieces if you have varying sizes.
(5) Once golden brown, remove from the oil with tongs or a slotted spoon and place cauliflower on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain excess oil. Repeat the frying until all of the cauliflower is cooked.
(6) Just before you're ready to serve, add the fried cauliflower to a large bowl with the buffalo sauce. Stir or shake around to ensure the cauliflower get fully coated in sauce. Plate and serve with a side of ranch. Enjoy!
What to Eat with Buffalo Cauliflower
The first way I think to eat these buffalo cauliflower bites is served with ranch as a part of a football party snack spread! Find more delicious recipes in my Football Food collection. You can make them anytime you want a crispy, spicy snack. Cauliflower bites are also a delicious main in a salad or grain bowl, or better yet—buffalo cauliflower tacos!
Make Ahead
Fried cauliflower florets (un-sauced) can be frozen for up to 1 month. When ready to eat, simply air fry (~7 minutes at 350ºF) or bake in the oven (~10 minutes at 400ºF) until crispy. Then coat with buffalo sauce and enjoy fresh!
Expert Tips
Here are some of my top tips and tricks for successful fried cauliflower:
- Cut the cauliflower into large chunks. They're better to eat and easier to fry.
- The batter should be bubbly and medium-thick.
- Test the oil temperature by dropping a small blob of batter and seeing if it fries gently.
- Don't over-crowd the pot. You're likely going to have to fry in batches.
- You kitchen will smell like oil for a day after, just be prepared to air it out.
- Don't sauce the fried cauliflower with the buffalo sauce until you're ready to serve, as they will start to soften.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, since this is a wet batter, it must be fried in oil. Enjoy it! But once the cauliflower bites are fried, they could be stored and re-heated in the air fryer before coating in buffalo sauce.
Something that I want to note about this recipe is that frying is mandatory for the taste and texture to come out right. Yes, I did test this recipe with a baked version and it was simply not the same. The reaction between the batter and the hot oil makes the batter puff and bubble which results in the crispy, airy texture that unfortunately the oven cannot replicate.
You can store leftover fried cauliflower bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Re-heat for a few minutes in the air fryer until crispy and add some more buffalo sauce.
This recipe is written to be gluten-free. It is naturally nut-free and mostly dairy-free. The only places to look for dairy are in your buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. Swap those out and you have vegan buffalo cauliflower.
These gluten-free buffalo cauliflower wings are sure to be a hit at your next game day party! They're crispy, crunchy, healthy, and delicious—not to mention gluten free and easily dairy-free or vegan. Perfect for anyone and everyone to enjoy!
More Gluten-Free Appetizers
Have you made these gluten-free buffalo cauliflower bites? I'd very much appreciate it if you leave a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and review below, and tag me on instagram @fromoliviaskitchen!
Recipe
Gluten-Free Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower
- 500 ml frying oil I recommend avocado oil or canola oil
- ¾ cup buffalo sauce
Batter
- 1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour I use Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon each: cayenne and garlic powder, black pepper
- 1⅓ cup water
- ½ cup ranch
Instructions
- Fill a heavy-bottom pot with the frying oil. Depending on the size of your pot, the oil should be about 1 inch deep. Turn the heat to medium and allow the oil to slowly warm up.
- While the oil is heating, wash the head of cauliflower, dry, and chop into florets. They should be about 1-2 inches in diameter.
- In a very large bowl, combine the batter ingredients, mixing the dry ingredients thoroughly before adding the water. You will notice the batter will thicken and bubble.
- Add the cauliflower florets to the batter and stir to coat entirely. You may need to do this in batches.
- Test if the oil is hot enough by dropping a small amount of batter in. If it bubbles, puffs, and browns, the oil is good to go.
- Carefully use tongs or a slotted spoon to drop battered cauliflower florets into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pot to ensure each floret has space around it. You will have to do this in batches.
- Fry for approximately 2-3 minutes before flipping and cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes. Watch the smaller pieces if you have varying sizes.
- Once golden brown, remove from the oil with tongs or a slotted spoon and place cauliflower on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Repeat the frying until all of the cauliflower is cooked.
- Just before you're ready to serve, add the fried cauliflower to a large bowl with the buffalo sauce. Stir or shake around to ensure the cauliflower get fully coated in sauce. Plate and serve with a side of ranch. Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe is naturally vegan. Serve with a dairy-free ranch if required.
- Can I air fry the cauliflower bites? Since this is a wet batter, it must be fried in oil. Enjoy it!
- Storage: If you are not planning to serve the entire head of cauliflower, fried cauliflower florets (un-sauced) can be frozen for up to 1 month. When ready to eat, simply air fry (~7 minutes at 350ºF) or bake in the oven (~10 minutes at 400ºF) until crispy. Then coat with buffalo sauce and enjoy again!
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